GAME REPORT

Minsk Hang On For Vital Victory

Aliaksandr Kudrautsau picked up 14 points in Tsmoki-Minsk's first win in the Last 16

Tsmoki-Minsk breathed life into their EuroChallenge Last 16 campaign as they hung on for a tense 74-70 victory over Telekom Baskets.

After losing their opening two games in Group L, Minsk were desperate for a lift and got it thanks to a key steal from Aliaksei Trastinetski with just four seconds left.

After Aliaksandr Kudrautsau had missed both his free throws, blowing the chance to pad a 72-70 lead 10 seconds from time, Trastsinetski robbed Jared Jordan of the ball and drew a foul from Kyle Weems before icing it from the line.

Up until then, Telekom had been threatening a comeback.

A 9-0 Minsk run in the third quarter saw the guests fall 52-41 behind but they got right back in it with a 9-0 run of their own, with a three-pointer from Benas Veikalas making it 63-60 with 2:48 to go.

Aliaksandr Pushtahvar's three stretched it to 68-62 with 1:52 left but Telekom kept chipping away to get within two points, three times in the final 65 seconds, only for Trastsinetski to snatch it away.

Veikalas led Telekom with 21 points while Robert Vaden had 16 and Jordan 14.

The result leaves the teams level in the group at 1-2.

COACH QUOTES

Quotes Tsmoki-Minsk vs. Telekom Baskets Bonn

Telekom Baskets head coach Michael Koch"We had only one training to prepare for this game. It is very short term. But we had a chance to win the match in the end. However our concentration was not enough."

Telekom Baskets player Benas Veikalas"We expected that the game will be hard. And it was. But when Tsmoki missed some free throws in the end we had some chances to win. But our opponent was luckier today."

Tsmoki player Aleksei Lashkevich"This game was very important for us. That is why we prepared very well and we done all things our coach asked."

Tsmoki head coach Andrey Krivonos"We knew that if we lose this game we would lose chances to continue playing in the EuroChallenge. That is why we tried to show our best basketball. We won but the game was very uneasy for us."

73-70

00:04

15 A. Trastsinetski Free throw MADE(2/2)

74-70

00:04

QUARTER 1Q 1

QUARTER 2Q 2

QUARTER 3Q 3

QUARTER 4Q 4

COACH QUOTES

Quotes Tsmoki-Minsk vs. Telekom Baskets Bonn

Telekom Baskets head coach Michael Koch"We had only one training to prepare for this game. It is very short term. But we had a chance to win the match in the end. However our concentration was not enough."

Telekom Baskets player Benas Veikalas"We expected that the game will be hard. And it was. But when Tsmoki missed some free throws in the end we had some chances to win. But our opponent was luckier today."

Tsmoki player Aleksei Lashkevich"This game was very important for us. That is why we prepared very well and we done all things our coach asked."

Tsmoki head coach Andrey Krivonos"We knew that if we lose this game we would lose chances to continue playing in the EuroChallenge. That is why we tried to show our best basketball. We won but the game was very uneasy for us."